Aerial masts



E. J. FOSTER AERIAL MASTS March 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 26, 1952 March 27, 1956 Filed May 26, 1952 E. J. FOSTER 2,739,673

AERIAL MAsTs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fi/f/ffrf J /fff BY W ERHAL MASTS Everett J. Foster, Goodland, Kans.

apparaten May 2e, 1952, seran No. 29am? 8 Claims. (Cl. 189-26) This invention relates to a mast for supporting an aerial, and is more particularly designed for use with directional television aerials. The principal objects of the invention is to provide an aerial mast construction which can be quickly and easily erected to any desired height without requiring scaiolding, hoisting apparatus, or other paraphernalia.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the aerial mast that it will be substantially self-erecting, that is, so that it may be extended vertically from a xed position in very limited space, and so that it may be quickly and easily lowered for repairs and replacements to the aerial, without requiring horizontal space for the mast.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side view of the lower portion of the improved mast and its supporting base;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section, looking downwardly on the line 2 2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail section through a supporting latch employed in the improved aerial mast;

Fig. 4 is a detail, horizontal section, taken on the line 4 4, Pig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side View of the mid-section of the improved mast; and

Fig. 6 is a similar side view of the top section thereof.

The improved mast is supported from an open rectangular base trame consisting of four pipe posts 16 arising from tiltable and adjustable base shoes 11 which are secured to the pipe posts by means of attachment bolts 12. The four posts 1t) are held in fixed, rectangular relation by means of diagonal pipes 13 welded, or otherwise mounted on, suitable pipe couplings 14 on the upper extremities of the posts 10. The diagonal pipes converge to a common central coupling 15 into which a lower or first tubular mast member 16 is threaded or otherwise vertically mounted.

The posts 19 are braced and held in vertically spaced relation by means of an upper pair of diagonal crossed bars 17 and a lower pair of diagonal crossed bars 13. v

The bars 17 and 18 are secured at their extremities, by means of attachment bolts 19, to ears 20 formed on pipe sleeves 2l which are ixedly mounted on the posts 10. The lower pair of crossed bars 18 supports an antennarotating mechanism of any of the conventional types, illustrated mounted in a rotator enclosure 22. The-upper pair of crossed bars 17 supports two oppositely-acting gripping dogs 23 which are swingingly mounted in supporting ears 24 on one of the bars 17.

2,739,673 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 A sectional axis pipe 25 extends through the crossed bars 13 and through the rotator enclosure 22, thence upwardly through the crossed bars 17 and between the gripping dogs 23, and axially upward through the lower first mast member 16. The axis pipe is formed in sections, each section being shorter than the distance between the upper cross bars 17 and the roof or other supporting surface upon which the base is mounted. The sections are successively secured together by means of suitable pipe couplings 50.

A second tubular mast member 26 extends upwardly from the first mast member 16. A third tubular mast member 27 extends upwardly from the second mast member 26, and a fourth tubular mast member 2S extends upwardly from the third mast member 27. Each mast member is formed from pipe or tubing, and is snugly, slidably and telescopically mounted in the next lowermost member so that all may be nested within each other to have a total closed length very little in excess of the length of a single mast member.

Each successively higher mast member is supported, when fully extended, by means of a withdrawable latch 29 mounted in a guide tube 30 projecting from a split clamp 31 which can be clamped on the mast member by means of suitable clamp bolts 32. The latch construction for all of the mast members is similar, and in each a compression spring 33 constantly urges the latch 29 forwardly. A latch stem 34 projects rearwardly from the tube 3), and a withdrawing cable 35 is connected to the stem 3ft to withdraw the latch 29 from its mast member. The withdrawing cables are trained over guide rollers 36 supported in side ears 37 secured to and projecting outward from the tubes 3i). For convenience, all of the cables are tied to a cable clamp d@ to prevent them from swaying in the wind.

A clamping sleeve 38 is clamped about the upper extremity of each mast member by means of suitable ciamp bolts 39. Each clamping sleeve is formed with a projecting, downwardly inclined peripheral fiange 40 about its bottom, having perforations through which the upper extremities of guy wires 41 are attached.

A ball thrust bearing 42 is secured in the top of the fourth or uppermost mast member 23 and supports an axis pipe clamp 43, which is tixedly clamped to the axis pipe 25' by means of suitable clamp screws de. The axis pipe 25 projects upwardly from the fourth or uppermost mast member any desired distance to support any desired type of television aerial.

An erecting bar is suspended from an arm projecting from the axis pipe clamp 43 and extends downwardly in parallel relation to the vertical axis of the mast. The erecting bar 45 is provided with freely swinging upped and lower hooked members 46 pivoted to the bar by means of suitable pivots 47. The hooked members 46 are vertically spaced apart and positioned so that they may be manually swung inwardly beneath and into engagement with the anges 40 on the second and third mast members 27 and 28.

The axis pipe clamp 43 is also provided with a hook d8 which extends downwardly and inwardly below the thrust bearing 42.

Let us a-ssume that the 'base shoes 11 have been mounted on a roof or other supporting structure to rigidly support the posts 10 in vertical position, that al1 of the mast members are nested within the lower mast member 16, with the axis pipe 25 projecting therebelow, and that the members 18 and 22 have been temporarily removed.

The operator now pushes the axis pipe 25 upwardly, additional sections being added as necessary by means of the couplings Sti. This causes the hook 48 to pull the fourth mast member 28 upwardly in the third mast member 27. As the upper hook member 46 approaches the ange 40 of arredare the third mast'member' 27, the'hook member is manually swung nwardlybeneath theY latter' flange and` the'thirdmast member 27 will be drawn upwardly by the upper hook member 46. As the lower hook member 46 approaches the'ange 49 of the-secondmast memb'erZG'; the latter hook memberismanually swung'inwardlybeneath the latter' flange and the 'second mast member'will be drawn upwardly by the ilower hook member46'and from the'rst mast member i6. The weight imposed upon the 'two hook" members 46, assisted bythe inclineoftheanges 40; se= curely holds thehook members in iirm frictional engagement with the-flanges and prevents the former from swing# ing outwardly from the latter'until theload isreleased' upon the hook members.

Thedogs 23-serve to support tlie'load on the axispipe as sections are added thereto;

When thesecond mastmember'reaches its fully extended position'thelatch29 in' therst mast member 16 will snap thenebeneathto'supportI thesecond mastmember therein. The guy wires 4l suspended fromthe'lange 4G of the second mast member 26 are now secured to the roof or other ixed support to rigidly supportthe second" mast member in a'vertical position.

rl`he operator now lowersl the axispipe sufficiently torelieve the load on thelowerhook'dt sothat the latter Vmay swing outwardly away from theilange 4tl`on the clamp Br-'oi the second iixedly-supported mast member 26.

Additional sections are now added to the axis pipe and the latter is forced upwardly to carry the thirdan'dfourth mast members 27 and ZSupwardly inthe secondmast' member 26 until the latch 2% in the upper extremity of the second mast member 26 snapsbeneath the lower extremity of the third mast member 27 to iixedly support the latter. The guy wires suspended'from the tlange 40 of the third mast member are Vnow iixedly attached to support the third mast member in a fixed vertical position.

The operator now-lowers the'axis pipe 25 sufficiently to relieve the load on the upper hooked so that the latter may swing freely outward away from the iianget on the clamping sleeve 39 on the upper extremity ofthe now iixedly supported third mast member 27.

Additional sections are now added to the axis pipeand the latter are forced upwardly to cause the hook 48 t0 carry the fourth mast member 28 upwardly in the third mast member 27 until the latch 29 atthe upper extremity of the third member 27 snaps beneath the fourth ma-st member 2S.

The iinal guy wires, suspended'from the iiange 40 of the fourth mast member 2S, arenow attached to the roof or other iixed structure `to support the fourth mast member ZSirigidly vertical. The dogs 23 arenow released, thecross members 18 are placed in position and any suitable aerial rotating mechanisminstalledfon'the axis pipe as indicated by the rotator housing-22.

Before erection, a televisionaerial of any of the conventional types is tixedly mounted on the upper extremity or" the axis pipe 25 above the axis pipe clamp 43' and before erection the upper extremities of all guy wires 41'are secured to their respective .flanges 401 After erection, the entire load of the aerial and axis pipeis supported on the anti-friction bearing 42.

To reach the aerialfor replacement or repairs, it is only necessary to engage .the'dogs V23, then lift the axis pipe to releasethe loadon'the upper latch 29 so that the latter may be withdrawnby means of its cable 35 to allow the fourth member to be lowered. This is repeated Withthe third and second mast members, all.v being loweredsuccessivelyfby, removingpsections fromthe axis pipe 2S in thereverseorden-of .the erection process.

Whilev a specilic form of the AimproVerrn-:nt hasbeentde scribed and illustratedhereimit is desired Yto be'. understood 'that the-samemaybeVaIied, withintherscope ofthe; appended claims, .withoutdeparting :fromethe spiritof the." invention..

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured byLetters-Patentris:

l. An aerial mast comprising: a hollow supporting base, a lirst tubular outer mast member iixedly mounted on said base and arising vertically therefrom; a plurality of tubu lar inner mast members telescopically iitted within each other and within said first tubular mast member; an axis member extending axiallythroughl all of said mast members and projecting upwardly and downwardly from the latter; means preventing "relative axial movement between the innermost mast member:and saidaxis member; means supported from the innermost mast member adapted to engage the remaining'inner'mastfmembers so that as said axis member is moved upwardly, each inner mast member will be successively drawn upwardly in the next outermost mast member; and means on each mast member, with the exception of the innermost mast member, adapted to engage the lower extremity of and support the next withinv mast member in" its "upwardly extendedv position.

2. An aerial mast comprising; a' hollow vsupporting base;

a first tubular outermost'member xedly and vertically mountedinY said base; a plurality'ofinneritubular slidable;

telescopically-titted mast members telescopically fitted within each otliei-"and'withinsaidliirst mast member; an axis member extending axially androtativelythrough all offsaid mast members and'projectingupwardly and downwardly beyond thelatter; means acting to prevent relative axial'movementbetweenthednnermost member and said axial member; means for supporting each mast member in its upwardly-extended position' in they next outermost mast member; a collar surroundingtheupper extremity yof each mast member; a guy wire ange on each collar; guy wires attached to said guywire flanges; a withdrawable latch member mounted'on each mast member below said collar; means urging each latchmember into a position below the next innermost'mast member to support the latter in its extended'position; an erecting bar supported from the upper extremity of the innermost mastY member and extending downwardly therefrom; and means on said erecting bar detachably engaging tlieguy wire flanges of the re maining inner mast members so that as said axis member 1s moved upwardly leach inner mast member will be drawn upwardly in the next outermost mast member.

3. An aerial mast`r as' described|` inV claim 2 having a ratchet-like supportingdevice mounted in said base and arranged to removably engage saidaxis member to'prevent downward movement thereof;V

4. An aerial mast comprising: a plurality of lixedly supextremities of said posts intermediate the latter; a first mast member arising from said collar, thelowerextremity of said first mast member terminatingat'said collar at its lower extremity; a second mast member slidable within the rst mast'memberand"extending;thereabove; a third mast Vmember slidable'withintthe secondmast member and proiecting thereab'ove; a fourth" mast' member slidable within said Vthird mastmember' and projectingthereabove; means ori-thev first; second," and third mast members rcleasably supporting the next higherma-st member therein; a sectional axis memberextendingithrough all of said mast members'l and"projectingdownwardly therefrom into' said base, saidaxis member'projecting upwardly above the uppermost mast memberto support" anAY aerial; a thrust bearing disposed between said axis member' and said fourth mast member preventing'downward movement'of said axis member in said fourth-mast member; and means in'said base connected with-said axis member for rotating the latterfin -said mast members;

5. Anaerialmast comprising: atirsttubularfmastmember; means iixedly andverti'cally supporting said iirst' tubularmasbmember'with' its lower'extremity elevated andinzan open' accessible'position; a secondtubularmember telescopically slidable`within" saidi'rsttubular mast member; iabst :tinge"aiii`xcdto-and projecting outwardly from'adacent die upper-extremity of Isaid secondz tubular member; an axis pipe axially positioned within said tubular members and projecting above and below the latter; erecting means depending from adjacent the upper extremity of said axis pipe eXteriorly of said tubular members; and a hooked member mounted on said erecting means and adapted to detachably engage said flange to draw said second tubular member upwardlyy in said first tubular member as said axis pipe is forced upwardly; a latch member, carried by said rst mast member adapted to automatically snap into engagement with said second mast member when the latter has been drawn beyond a predetermined height to support the latter independently of said hook member, permitting the latter to swing out of engagement with said said flange; and means for withdrawing said latch member so as to permit lowering said second mast member when so desired.

6. An aerial mast as described in claim 5 having a third tubular member telescopically slidable within said second tubular member about said axis pipe; a second flange axed to and projecting outwardly from adjacent the upper extremity of said axis pipe; and a second hooked member mounted on said erecting means and positioned to engage -said second ange so as to lift said third tubular member with said second tubular member.

7. An aerial mast as described in claim 6 having a fourth tubular member telescopically slidable within said third tubular member and about said axis pipe; and means carried by said axis pipe and engaging said fourth tubular member so a-s to lift said fourth tubular member with said second and third tubular members.

8. An aerial mast as described in claim 7 having latch members in said rst, second and third tubular members adapted to engage said second, third and fourth tubular members respectively to support the latter in their elevated positions; and means connected with said latches and extending to a position adjacent the bottom of said first tubular member for withdrawing said latches from their engaged positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATE PATENTS 685,385 Odette et a1 Oct. 29, 1901 1,070,167 Nitschke Aug. 12, 1913 1,073,294 Liewert Sept. 16, 1913 2,324,614 Dalton July 20, 1943 2,331,558 McEwen et al. Oct. 12, 1943 2,369,534 Cohen Feb. 13, 1945 2,611,456 Bader Sept. 23, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 233,035 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1925 

